When it comes to anime, the attention to detail extends far beyond the vibrant illustrations and in-depth plotlines. Anime character name meanings often relate to either to a character's role in the story, their interests, or their personality. Because names can be written using a variety of kanji, one can theoretically turn a seemingly ordinary Japanese name like Yusuke into one that's thematically appropriate for the protagonist of Yu Yu Hakusho - a name that means "ghost." Some names are even more clever than that - Ryuuko Matoi from Kill la Kill has a name with eight different meanings. A character's name is as important as any other detail in revealing who they are, so let's look at some interesting examples.
Few characters in Naruto possess normal names, which is why naming your baby Naruto is more than a little ridiculous. Nearly every character has a name with some symbolic or referential meaning. Kakashi Hatake's name, for instance, means "scarecrow in the field." This sounds random until you consider what a scarecrow's job is: to scare off dangerous crows that could destroy defenseless crops. As a Jônin instructor, Kakashi's must protect the younger, inexperienced ninja who can't protect themselves.
"Dark destination" fits as the surname of a character who becomes a Shinigami, but Ichigo's given name is also rife with symbolism. For one thing, it follows the fruit theme running through his family tree. Ichigo can mean strawberry, while his sister Yuzu's name can mean yuzu, a kind of Japanese citrus fruit. His other sister, Karin, has a name resembling the Japanese word for quince.
Another possible meaning is "one-five," which explains why Ichigo frequently appears with the number 15. A more significant interpretation is that "ichi" means "one" and "go" means "to protect," meaning he wants to protect one thing - his mother. As the series progresses, the circle of people he wishes to help expands.
Ryuuko Matoi's name comes with an astonishing eight different meanings, all of which tie in to the plot of Kill la Kill.
Combining both the hiragana and kanji readings of her name can produce the following meanings, as translated by Tumblr user sushiobunny:
1) Wandering Child
2) Stray Child
3) Meteor Child
4) Fashion
5) Hero
6) Two big rivals
7) Female Nagare (a character from Otokogumi upon whom Ryuuko was based) and
8) a reference to Nagare's love interest, Ryouko.
That's pretty intense for one name!
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Ochaco Uraraka's Name Is Straight-Up Adorable In 'My Hero Academia'
Just about everyone in My Hero Academia has a name relevant to their personality. One of the cutest examples is Ochaco Uraraka's name. Her surname means "bright and beautiful" (which she is!), while her given name can be read as "tea child." This explains why one of the fandom's most popular ships, Ochaco x Midoriya, is often called "green tea."
Besides that, her hero name, Uravity, is a portmanteau of her surname and the word "gravity" - a reference to her ability to make things float when she touches them.
Lelouch Lamperouge's name clearly isn't Japanese, but it isn't British either. Though the fictional Britannia where Lelouch hails from isn't exactly analogous to the European nation, there are some major similarities between the two. Lelouch's name is actually French. Lelouch isn't a real name that French people give their children - which is no wonder, given the meaning. According to Behind The Name, Lelouch means "shady, dubious, or disreputable." His last name, Lamperouge, means "red lamp" - likely a reference to the glow in his eyes when his Geass activates. Well, the creators basically spelled that one out for everybody.
There's a minor character in Death Note whose real name is Mail Jeevas, which is not a name. Still, the creators put a little more thought into the protagonist, Light Yagami, when choosing his name. His given name, Light, is written with the kanji for "moon" which is why at one point in the series, his followers gather in the moonlight to hold a cult meeting.
His last name, Yagami, means "night" and "god." This fitting name was suggested by Tsugumi Ohba's editor.
Kenshin Himura actually starts life with a more ordinary name, Shinta. After impressing a swordsman with his compassion, he receives a new name, Kenshin. The "ken" means sword, while the "shin" means heart. His surname, Himura, means "dark red village" - likely an allusion to his blood-stained past.
Creators carefully chose Yusuke Urameshi's name to fit his character. His given name, Yusuke, is frequently bestowed on real Japanese people, but typically not with the kanji that Yusuke's name uses. That kanji, which also appears in the anime's title Yu Yu Hakusho, means "ghost."
His last name is equally ominous. While it doesn't use the same characters, it sounds like "urameshii" which means "bitter" or "resentful." This phrase is most commonly associated with, you guessed it, ghosts.
Usagi Tsukino, the original Japanese name for Sailor Moon, has an interesting symbolic origin. Usagi means "rabbit," while Tsukino means "of the moon." While the moon part is clear no matter the cultural context, the rabbit part takes a little more explaining. In Japan, there's a folktale involving a rabbit who makes mochi from its perch on the moon. Cute, right?
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Kaneki's Name Is A Reference To Famed Novelist Osamu Dazai In 'Tokyo Ghoul'
Osamu Dazai is considered one of the most famous Japanese novelists. His book, No Longer Human, is lauded as a masterpiece for its bleak themes surrounding alienation and suicide. Kaneki's name pays tribute to Dazai since it resembles Dazai's hometown, Kanagi. Many of Tokyo Ghoul's characters such as Kaneki and Eto use literature and writing to cope with their trauma and escape from their harsh realities. The themes of alienation and fitting into society is also present in the series as Kaneki represents two feuding species - ghouls and humans. It's no surprise that the mangaka, Sui Ishida, took inspiration from this classic author.
Seto Kaiba, the 15-year-old billionaire who spends all of Yu-Gi-Oh! doting on his little brother Mokuba and insulting other duelists, has a name with a dual cultural meaning. His given name, Seto, is derived from Set, an Egyptian god. This makes sense, since Kaiba happens to be the reincarnation of a fictionalized version of Set.
The name Kaiba translates to Seahorse. Seahorses won't seem relevant to Kaiba unless you know of the mythological connection between seahorses and dragons. It's a perfect name for a guy whose signature card is the Blue Eyes White Dragon, and who literally owns a dragon-shaped jet.
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Yuno Gasai's Name Is Just As Creepy As Her Character In 'The Future Diary'
If you search for classic yandere characters on the Internet, most likely Yuno Gasai will pop up. The characters of her last name "Gasai" translate to "I" and "wife." Her first name, "Yuno," is written by the two Kanji "Yu" and "no." This translates to "always after you." Given that her affections for Yukiteru are downright obsessive and disturbing, this is a fitting name for a yandere.
Everyone in Gintama gets Katsura's name wrong, calling him Zura instead of his actual name. Both his actual name and the nickname can mean "wig," which explains why he's often seen wearing random hair pieces.
This confusion led to his catchphrase, "Zura janai, Katsura da!" which basically means that his name isn't Zura, it's Katsura. However, Zura also means "friend." During one of the anime's more touching moments, he reverses the phrase and says "Katsura janai, Zura da!" which essentially means "I'm your friend."
Akane Tsunemori believes in finding morality through law and order, and her surname reflects this part of her personality. It means "protector of the usual state of things" - which Akane works hard to do, despite working for a dystopian police organization whose "usual state" is one she deeply disapproves of by the end of the series. Her given name, Akane, means "red" or "bloody," a reflection of the grim nature of work she must undertake as an Inspector.
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Son Goku's Name Is An Homage To A Famous Chinese Legend In 'Dragon Ball'
One of the most famous Chinese legends is the 16th century novel, Journey to the West. It follows Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, and his journey to attain enlightenment. Dragon Ball's mangaka Akira Toriyama has stated that this series is a loose adaptation of Journey to the West, with Son Goku acting as the classic Monkey King. This makes sense why Goku was born with a tail.
Both Sun Wukong and Son Goku have the same characters in Chinese and Japanese but with different pronunciations. Wukong and Goku are common Buddhist names that mean "awakened to emptiness." Goku's SSJ transformation has a lot of parallels to the Monkey King's enlightenment. Plus, they both possess a magical staff and the abillity to manipulate weather (e.g. Flying Nimbus).
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Usopp's Name Contains A Japanese Pun That Reflects His Character In 'One Piece'
Usopp is known as the "Liar" among the Straw Hats since he has a penchant for lying and always entertains others with tall tales. "Uso" in Japanese means "lie" or "falsehood." Plus, his name in Japanese has the same pronunciation as Aesop, an ancient Greek storyteller. Both of these meanings accurately reflect his identity as a liar and storyteller. His backstory is also similar to Aesop's famous tale, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, since no one believed Usopp when pirates were attacking.
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Yomiko Readman Has A Literary Name In 'Read Or Die'
While the meaning of the last name "Readman" feels obvious to English speakers, it may not seem that way to a Japanese audience. On the flip side, English speaking viewers may not know the protagonist of Read or Die has a given name, Yomiko, that literally translates to "reading woman." So, she definitely won't be dying any time soon.
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Itoshiki Nozomu's Name Is A Pun In 'Sayonara, Zetsubō-Sensei'
Nozomu Itoshiki rocks a name that suits him perfectly. This perpetually miserable schoolteacher's last name literally means "colored thread" but when the two kanji that make up Itoshiki are written closely together, they resemble the word "zetsubō" which translates to "despair." For this reason, he absolutely hates it when people don't write his name out carefully, even though "despair" sounds very much like him.
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Onoda Sakamichi's Name Is Perfect For A Cyclist In 'Yowamushi Pedal'
Sakamichi Onoda's favorite thing in the world, besides magical girl anime, is biking up steep hills. Naturally, his name has something to do with the concept. His given name, Sakamichi, means "slope." His surname, Onoda, technically means "small rice paddy," but Wataru Watanabe, the creator of Yowamushi Pedal, choose the surname without any particular intention. However, he did choose his rival Sangaku's name intentionally - Sangaku is also a climber, and his name means "mountains."
